The Sixth form Art trip to Paris - Nick Yaxley

After much anxiety about travelling on a Bank Holiday weekend, and visions of the minibus parked on the M25, We arrived at the Eurotunnel with time to spare – the plethora of Staff Common Room horror stories had not come true.

We were off to Paris, with all the colour and excitement it had to offer. The Musée D’Orsay and the Pompidou Centre on Saturday and Monet’s Garden on the Sunday. Despite arriving in the early hours of Saturday morning, all were prepared for the delights of the Musée D’Orsay by 11.00am. Around every corner a famous and iconic work of art - it was breathtaking. The building itself affording panoramic views of Paris, and the restaurant a magnificent, Tarte Tartin. Unlike many museums, we were allowed to take photo’s of the work, which we duly did a plenty.

Lunch in the Tuillerie Gardens and then on to some shopping in the posh boutiques nearby. By the late afternoon we were inside the Pompidou centre viewing its fine collection of modern art. Not to everyone’s taste perhaps, but definitely thought provoking and memorable. The Boccioni sculpture was a particular favourite of mine; a piece I was very familiar with but had not seen in the flesh.

The evening meal was in a typical French restaurant, not a Pizza Hut, as some had requested, and back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

Sunday and Monet’s garden: we were blessed with beautiful sunshine and the garden was at its floral best. Monet’s paintings came to life before your very eyes. All the students, despite some initial scepticism about going to the garden, thought that this was the best part of the trip.




A picnic of French bread and cheeses topped off a great day. In the evening back in Paris, we witnessed an open air rock concert and the illumination of the Eiffel Tower, very spectacular!

The pupils behaved in an exemplary manner throughout and were great fun to be with. Red berets and ‘I love Paris’ T-shirts were essential items of clothing as was the speaking in a weird northern accent at all times(why?)

Singing the Roundway house song – Valerie, whilst walking along the Seine on the Sunday evening will live in my memory for a long time.

Thanks to Claire Parry for all her organization and her support on the trip and to the students for making everything so straight forward and enjoyable.

Nick Yaxley